MP for Mid Worcestershire Nigel Huddleston writes for the Standard.
SUMMER is fully under way, and I’ve been able to make the most of the glorious weather and get out and about to see businesses, schools, festivals, and sporting events in the constituency and beyond.
It would be remiss of me not to first comment on the England football team’s valiant journey to the Euro finals.
We’re all so proud of what our team achieved and our runner-up position puts us in a good position to fight next year’s World Cup.
As Minister for Sport I attended several other events and had the honour of handing out cups at the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, and the British Grand Prix. Many of the events were part of the ‘Events Research Programme’.
Closer to home, I have attended fetes, events and tourist hotspots across the constituency, including the Evesham Abbey Trust and Holland House in Cropthorne which has recently received heritage fund and culture recovery fund money.
I’ve met with local housing providers including Rooftop Housing and looked around one of their new developments and I’ve met with care home sector representatives to discuss how they’re recovering from the pandemic.
I continue to do Q&A sessions with local schools, and, not surprisingly, the environment, climate change, how to deal with Covid, and the Euros have been hot topics!
Westminster was busy before the summer recess as we rushed to get legislation and key debates completed before MPs returned to their constituencies.
I’m looking forward to even more visits and events planned in the coming next few weeks and I’ll have the opportunity to go slightly further afield to Japan for some of the Tokyo Olympics.
This month, with the fourth stage of the Prime Minister’s roadmap in easing restrictions, the number of infections has been relatively high.
We remain optimistic the vaccination programme is preventing many people from getting seriously ill or needing hospitalisation and the link with deaths has weakened.
Please enjoy your summer safely and, if you have not yet taken up the offer of a jab, please do so for your safety and the safety of others.
I am proud that over 90 per cent of local adults have already done so.
